Italy fines Apple $1.2M over warranty confusion

Italian regulators have slapped Apple with $1.2 million (€900,000) in fines for misleading customers about assistance services and guarantees for products.

The fines came from Italy’s anti-trust authority, which said Apple gave unclear information on payments necessary to maintain customer service (a €400,000 fine) and was unclear about its Apple Care extended warranty (a €500,000 fine), according to an AFP report.

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Local laws in Italy require companies to offer a two-year warranty on every product free of charge, which is different from Apple’s standard one-year warranty. While customers have the option of purchasing a longer warranty, Italian regulations have determined that Apple hasn’t fulfilled its obligation.

Apple doesn’t have a huge presence in the Italian market, but it does have nine retail stores there. Assuming the company doesn’t challenge the fees, Italy may be the best place to buy an Apple product, since the two-year warranty comes at no additional cost.

[Image via wallpapers.vintage.it]